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Definition of thane

thane

/θeɪn/
thane
Plural:thanes
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thane Lexical Profile

thane Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Scottish In medieval Scotland, a man of rank holding lands directly from the king, or the chief of a clan who became one of the king's barons.

Example

"In Shakespeare's tragedy, Macbeth is rewarded for his valor by being named the Thane of Cawdor."

2

British In Anglo-Saxon England, a free retainer of a king or nobleman who held land granted to him in exchange for military service.

Example

"The Anglo-Saxon chronicle recorded how the loyal thanes stood by their ealdorman until the bitter end."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

In modern usage, the spelling 'thane' is most strongly associated with medieval Scotland (notably through Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'), whereas historians of Anglo-Saxon England generally prefer the archaic spelling 'thegn'.

• Rhymes for thane

• Nearby Words

thames
thamirabarani
than
thane
thank
thankful
thankfully

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'þegn', meaning a servant, attendant, or military retainer, derived from a Proto-Germanic root related to Ancient Greek 'teknon' (child).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Thane. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/thane
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